Xyplex, Inc.

Steven H Sherry

Scott G Wasson

George E Conant

A network with parallel bridges transmits information packets over parallel paths between first and second terminals in a network having other terminals while maintaining conformity with a protocol that precludes establishing loops formed by links between terminals that allow information packets to recirculate indefinitely. There is a first pair of bridges with each bridge connected to a respective one of the first and second terminals and interconnected by a first link. There is a second pair of bridges each connected to a respective one of the first and second terminals and interconnected by a second link. At least one bridge in each of the first pair of bridges and the second pair of bridges is designatable as a master bridge and has a forwarding/filtering module for forwarding and filtering information packet transfer between the first and second terminals, a topology recognition/traffic assignment module for sensing the existence of parallel transmission paths between the first and second terminals and assigning information packets to respective ones of the parallel transmission paths for transfer between the first and second terminals, and a spanning tree module for providing a spanning tree bridge identifier signal. A spanning tree bridge identifier signal sensor senses the spanning tree bridge identifier signals and designates as a master that bridge having the spanning tree bridge identifier signal meeting a pre-determined condition.

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Lynnfield, MA, United States of America

Steven H Sherry